William McKenzie commentary: Let's bring respect, compromise back to politics

Friday

Nov 29, 2013 at 12:01 AMNov 29, 2013 at 11:18 AM

We could sit here and argue the fine points of Senate filibuster rules, which Democrats changed last week so they could get more of the president's judicial and executive nominees approved. Republicans are furious about Democrats using the nuclear option, as the vote to stop filibusters has been termed. But the primary issue is not who's right and who's wrong.

We could sit here and argue the fine points of Senate filibuster rules, which Democrats changed last week so they could get more of the president’s judicial and executive nominees approved. Republicans are furious about Democrats using the nuclear option, as the vote to stop filibusters has been termed.

But the primary issue is not who’s right and who’s wrong. The skirmishing over Senate rules is a symptom of a larger problem, a much larger problem.

The politics of loathing continues to dominate Washington and even statehouses, where some comity once existed. The debate over whether one party could stop judicial and executive nominations by maintaining a filibuster is only the latest case study.

Before this incident, the nation watched the parties fight over shutting down the government. We also endured brawls over Bush-era tax cuts, the sequester, a budget grand bargain and America’s approach to Syria. Even now, Washington is dueling over the traditionally bipartisan defense bill.

Although the list of snarling dogfights stretches way back into the 1990s, we have had moments where the parties maintain their differences but still resolve a problem. The best recent example is the budget agreement reached after the 2010 election.

But those examples are rare. Instead, too many politicians in each party won’t give an inch to the other. Crafting a compromise would abet the enemy. The same is true for core supporters. They have no use for each other, perhaps because the partisans live in parallel universes.

Of course, we have always had political differences. And, fortunately, we always will. How boring it would be to live where most everyone confirms your views.

But the political world has gone far beyond having differences. We have descended into despising our opponents.

This shift was brought home as the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s death approached. Dallas had fierce conservatives at the time of JFK’s assassination. But, on Nov. 22, 1963, as many as 200,000 Dallasites jubilantly waved, leaned out windows and hoisted signs to welcome the Democratic president and his glamorous wife.

Lee Harvey Oswald’s gunshots often overshadow this point: In a city perceived as right-wing, tens of thousands of Dallas residents cheered the Kennedys wildly. I doubt all voted for Kennedy, but they were there to welcome him.

Here’s another good example of how we have changed. I recently did a video with Corky Friedman, whose late husband, Bayard, was mayor of Fort Worth when the Kennedys arrived there Nov. 21, 1963. The couple greeted them at Carswell Air Force Base that evening and the next morning at the Hotel Texas.

At the time, the Friedmans were helping build a Republican Party in Texas. But she recounted how they were honored to greet the Kennedys. As the First Family left Fort Worth for their fateful flight to Dallas, she said to him, “God bless you, Mr. President.”

As she recalled that story, I wondered whether something like that would happen today. Would a Republican leader wish God’s blessings upon a Democratic leader? Or vice versa? In some cases, yes, but probably not often.

I wish I had an easy answer for getting us back to that point. I don’t.

This is really a matter of the heart and will. We simply have to stop showing contempt for those with whom we disagree.

Put another way, we need more happy warriors. I used to love watching figures like Daniel Patrick Moynihan and William F. Buckley debate big issues. They relished the exchange and each other, showing politics can be joyous.

Now we have angry disciples eager to take down angry disciples from the other side. Today, the line of demarcation involves Senate rules.Tomorrow, it will be something else.

I thought of this problem as I walked back to the Dallas Morning News building from the JFK ceremony. Just as that respectful observation sought to redeem the horror of long ago events, we need to reclaim our politics.

“We” means “we the people.” Power rests in us, and we need to say enough is enough to leaders who won’t give an inch or respect their opponents. Until then, we will be stuck in a world with endless divides over issues like Senate rules.

William McKenzie writes for The Dallas Morning News.

wmckenzie@dallasnews.com

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.